46 ANGUIDA. 
which was put into the cage, and appeared to delight in 
it. The Blind-worm was a remarkably fine one, measuring 
fifteen inches in length. It cast its slough whilst in my 
keeping. The skin came off in separate pieces, the largest 
of which was two inches in length; splitting first on the 
belly, and the peeling from the head being completed the 
last.” 
These are interesting particulars; but it is certain that 
when in a state of liberty they do not exclusively live upon 
slugs, as I have found the remains of insects in the sto- 
mach; and they will also feed readily on earth-worms, 
even of six or seven inches long, according to the testimony 
of M. de Sept-Fontaines, as quoted by Lacépéde. 
The last-mentioned Erpetologist, who, however, like his 
colleague Buffon, was too credulous of all the stories told 
him, declares that this reptile would swallow mice, small 
rats, frogs, and toads. This is the statement of a person 
who has rather received for granted the assertions of the 
ignorant, than taken the trouble to observe for himself. The 
fact is, that the wholly undilatable character of the mouth 
necessarily restricts it to the deglutition of such prey as can 
be received within its narrow and circumscribed gape. 
One very interesting point in its habits, is its being ovo- 
‘viviparous. Like the last-described species, the Zootoca 
vivipara, the young of this animal are hatched before they 
come into the world; and it is probable that in this case, 
as in that of the species just named, as well as in the Viper 
and the Rattlesnake, the rupture of the membrane of the 
egg takes place during the parturition. The female is said 
to go with young about six weeks or two months: there 
can be no doubt, however, that the duration of this period 
must depend upon the temperature to which the animal is 
exposed. They are produced in June or July. The num- 
